CHANNEL Nine has dispatched yet another kick in the guts to loyal Rugby League fans by revealing that it will not be showing game one of the State of Origin series live in Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth. Instead AFL dominated states will have to wait until 9:30PM (Melbourne), 10:30PM (Adelaide) or 12:10AM (Perth) to see the replay.

ROUND 13 kicked off with a depleted Roosters side going down to Braith Anasta's Bulldogs. It was a tremendous win for Canterbury but afterwards, it was Easts' coach Ricky Stuart who stole the lime-light with some hoo-har about being robbed. I've always been a big fan of coaches whinging after matches. I know some people think we follow the game to watch the players but don't be fooled. After referees, coaches run a close second as the most watched people in the game. Mind you, Ricky needs to sharpen up his act a little... I watched the entire press conference and not once did he use an expletive - hardly entertaining.

THE crowd at Leichhardt Oval were after no less than a win from their team, and the Tigers tried their best to deliver, but were beaten by a determined Sea Eagles side 38-30, who finally have managed to win an away game in 2003. Surprisingly, after the reputation Leichhardt Oval has for visiting sides, the Tigers are yet to post a win at home in the 2003 NRL competition.

MELBOURNE Storm star Scott Hill has signed a new deal, worth $1.5 million over five years to stay with the Melbourne Storm. The deal will almost certainly see Hill finish his career with the Storm and his signature comes just days after another original Storm player, Matt Geyer, decided to put pen to paper and extend his tenure with the Storm.